Fishing float



Oct. 23, 1951 w WEST 2,572,790

FISHING FLOAT Filed July 7, 1949 William A. West INVENTOR.

7 Hg. 3. Fly. 4. BY a Patented Oct. 23, 1951 I FISHING FLOAT William A. West, Hume, Mo. Application July 7, 1949, Serial No, 103,441

The present invention}v relates,- generically speaking, to certain new-and useful improvements in fishing tackle characterized by a unique combination of accessories in which anglers will findtheir needs fully met, contained and reliably available.

More specifically, my invention has'to do with an orderly combinationof facilities'on a casting line and in'which chief novelty has to do with a float, preferably-an adjustable float, mounted on the line inwardly of the fishing hook, and a slidable sinker on the line between the float and rod, whereby, during casting, the float serves as a combined'stop and buffer for the sinker, allowing the sinker-to carry-the 'line'out to a wanted fishin spot, after which the sinker goes to the bottom and constitutes-an anchor for the float and hook-equipped end of the line.

A slidable sinker, as such, is not broadly new. Therefore, novelty, in addition to the above, is predicated upon a specifically new style of sinker which takes the form of a lead or equivalent sleeve having an appropriately shaped bushin which minimizes wear on the line.

I am also conversant with the state of the art to the extent that I realize that adjustable floats are not new, broadly speaking. Therefore, inreducing to practice the instant invention, I have evolved and produced a structurally distinct float possessed of refinements and distinctions which, to my mind, enable the float to better fulfill the purposes to be served.

Summarizing my objectives, it will be seen that the sequential order of attaching or mounting the float and sinker on the line in relation to the rod at one end and the hook at the other end is productive of improved fishing tackle; that the individual devices, the float, on the one hand, and the sinker, on the other hand, are singly and collectively novel.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like elements throughout the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, of a panoramic type, showing fishing tackle constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and illustrating the manner in which same is commonly used.

Fig. 2 is a view showing a fragmentary portion of the line in elevation and the improved float and sinker in relative positions and in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

- z Fig. l is a view like Fig. 3 illustrating the mannerin which the line fastening means is opened for adjustment of the float in relation to the line.

- Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals and lead lines and observ ing Fig. 1, the numeral 6 designates a pole or rod of a rod and reel assembly and '1 denotes the fishing line which isattached at one end to therod and provided at its opposite free end with suitable fish-hook means 8. The water line is denoted at 9 and the bottom or ground is denoted by the numeral In.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the sinker or weight is denoted by the numeral I l and comprises a cylindrical elongated sleeve of appropriate dimen-' sions for intended purposes, said sleeve being denoted at l2 and preferably being of lead or an equivalent weighty material. The sleeve is counterbored at its opposite end and the main'bore is: lined with a copper or equivalent tube I3 which constitutes a bushing and allows free passage of the line subject to a minimum degree of wear.

The-opposite ends of thebushing are flared to rests upon the line in the manner illustrated. The" float may be of cork or'any equivalent buoyant material. The fastener for the float comprises a wire or equivalent V-shaped bail ll whose limbs l8 and I9 pierce and pass through diametrically opposite sides of the float. The bight portion is denoted at 20 and this serves as an appropriate mount for a cam latch 2| formed with a suitable finger piece 22. The cam is associable with the coacting curvate surface of the float, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and obviously serves to open and close the line grappling hooks 23 on the free ends of the limbs l8 and I9. The bill portions of the hook sink into sockets provided therefor in the float as brought out in Fig. 4. Thus, the line 1 is engaged with the hooks and the hooks are bound, by the clamping action of the cam latch, against the float, to thus securely fasten the float on the line. As stated, I am aware that adjustable floats are not broadly new, but a float of this particular type and characterized by the bail l1 and latch means 2| is structurally distinct and susceptible of performing the wanted results.

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the free end of the line carries the hook 8, that the opposite end of the line i is attached to the rod or pole 6; that the float I6 is adjustably attached to the line inwardly of the hook and that the sinker is slidable on the line between the float and the rod.

In practice, I thread the sinker H on the line in an obvious manner, attach the hook 8 to the free end of the line as usual; then I bring the float into play and clamp the same on the line t a po nt nt n nine b tw en thehoq &, on one side and the sinker. on the other side. So far as I know, this ordered assemblage of hooks, float, sinker and rod is a unique combinatiorn in a. general structural assemblage which,, I ,.b.e; lieve may be generally identified as fishing tackle.

Also in practice, the float adjusted to, the desired position in relation to the baited; hook' (flies, spinners, or other artificial bait): 'illus; trated. I then cast the gline out into the water and obricuslyrm sink nc rties t e th e a. Qur naj heeqa in ctipni-thei e ledi end 0; hesmit :g illes. ntact it r b lpatu nd the float thus constitutes a bufier. The sinker; s9es Q-theF- Qt qm, andzle sr-the ine slide fr e y whsntheliae ss aekenedionsueh umgsee he flQ trmises Ul2 JEQ1Ila 1l?r, .QtatQm@Qdi, b i u l .s?a s time r amx Bwperlr, han l d, he eo kv anim te-e u pped en n he ine-man be eae ulate itathed sised, ma nst eam-Roswe and m sui ab mani mat a hamd am-reel); he-line is wedtoslisiefneelr, hmuehthesinken This,

makes it possible to so anchor the line tmthebot ward: hashone-onbankg In still uga,tp n;fis.h n zli hflY,-,- Q ld h u nment; particularly efilec-a tive even when high winds are encountered. By impln air ng. he, e u t dzsla k. qa her ng-i tillrwaterg he: that. lsimb and s be; tonp dr t annlevatmmw fle th e ink n, here igrminas-ananchoanema nsj wp a ea whenrthe ine st eele he bell drofe e sinker next to the float provides an effective abutment and allows the float to abut the sinker with no likelihood of dislodging or displacing the float from the line.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accorddeemed-unnecessary;

ItriS: to. be understood; however; that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same i s .,susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended' by the spirit of the invention as herein describedeand within the scope of the appended la ms Having described the claimedjs, new is:

As a new article of manufacture, areadily ata hable, detachable and-1 djustable float loomn zisina, arbuqyantt, been xlindrical int IIQSSfiQfirr iema Uesbag d -hailaharme tse imbs niercina; assing completel oughfitlQSlidb y mount? invention, what is ed1 nsa hhodresaidt( ai hav aa ehtr rticm projecting beyond one side of the body and l e asten nak aqnthe ree of. thee imb n ciec i a, eaches at iametricalln opposite; s de, Qt-the been, and-a ami latchhingedly- -mD1lnted n sa d, bight; po t o a and enga eable ith; a actinsrmtvate surraceeoiasaidmodyt n aeennnuonsteirsn;

'llheiiolloiwing; referencesi ELPBi-Ofj record; inzathelt fiIi1IQIE3 hi patent 21-; r 1

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